Shloka 5
Yayāti, Yadu’s Refusal, and the Merit of the Mother–Father Tīrtha
रूपेण तेजसा दानैः सत्यपुण्यव्रतैस्तथा । शर्मिष्ठा देवयानी च स्पर्धेते स्म तया सह
rūpeṇa tejasā dānaiḥ satyapuṇyavrataistathā | śarmiṣṭhā devayānī ca spardhete sma tayā saha
In Schönheit, in Glanz, in Gaben der Wohltätigkeit und ebenso in Gelübden der Wahrheit und des Verdienstes wetteiferten Śarmiṣṭhā und Devayānī mit ihr.
Unspecified (narratorial voice within the Purāṇic narration)
Concept: Even dharmic acts (dāna, satya-vrata) lose purity when driven by spardhā (competitive ego) rather than devotion and compassion.
Application: Examine motives behind charity and vows; practice anonymous giving and truthfulness without self-advertisement.
Primary Rasa: bibhatsa
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three noblewomen are shown in parallel panels: one offering gifts to brāhmaṇas, another performing a truth-vow ritual, and another adorned in radiant beauty—yet their sideways glances reveal rivalry. The composition contrasts outward splendor with inner unrest, like a mirror reflecting hidden motives.","primary_figures":["Devayānī","Śarmiṣṭhā","Kāmakanyā","brāhmaṇa recipients","attendants"],"setting":"Palace hall with a small ritual pavilion: donation trays, water pots, sacred thread, and a seat for vow-taking.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron","emerald green","pearl white","bronze"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: triptych-like palace hall—Devayānī and Śarmiṣṭhā in jeweled attire, gold leaf halos and ornate borders; scenes of dāna with gold-embossed trays, satya-vrata with ritual vessels; subtle rivalry shown through angled gazes; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, symmetrical icon-like presentation.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant courtly interior with delicate brushwork; soft dawn light; the women’s rivalry conveyed through nuanced expressions and spacing; refined textiles, muted jewel tones, lyrical naturalism in attendants and ritual objects.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized jewelry and garments; ritual pavilion with clear iconographic objects (kalaśa, dāna-pātra); expressive eyes indicating spardhā; warm pigment palette with rhythmic ornamentation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: decorative borders of lotuses and vines; central scene of dāna and vrata with patterned textiles; peacocks symbolizing pride; deep blue and gold accents; figures stylized, emphasizing moral allegory over realism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft bell during dāna","murmured mantra fragments","rustle of silk garments","low ambient court chatter fading"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सत्यपुण्यव्रतैस्तथा = सत्यपुण्यव्रतैः + तथा; अन्यत्र सन्धि न्यूनम्।
FAQs
The verse lists beauty (rūpa), splendor (tejas), charitable giving (dāna), and vows rooted in truth and merit (satya–puṇya–vrata) as the areas in which comparison and rivalry arise.
Even virtues such as charity and religious observance can become fuel for ego-driven competition; the implied ethical caution is to practice dharma for inner purification rather than for superiority over others.
This verse is primarily moral-psychological and character-focused rather than explicitly sectarian; it highlights dharmic virtues (truth, merit, charity) and how social comparison can distort them.